RADIO (ANTENNA ?) PROBLEM

[FourDoor]

The rise in volume with the touching of your wife's hand is called 'body capacity' and is normal. What is the 'antenna modulator'? Are you talking about the small screwdriver adjustable capacitor used to trim the antenna? It was usually found beside the antenna socket on the rear of the radio or behind one of the 2 front knobs. How did you adjust it? It was adjusted with the radio set to a weak station on the high end of the dial around 1300 Khz. If you set it at the low end you will wipe out the high end. And low end stations travel further than high end stations. Adjust the antenna with the antenna set to the length you want it. If you then extend or shorten the antenna you will detune the circuit. It was supposed to be trimmed with the antenna pulled all the way out. Then it was pulled out longer and longer,from it's 'short' city length, for better reception, and more sensitivity, as you got out of the city away from your favorite station. The antenna cable is grounded at the radio end but if it is not grounded at the fender end, you will get engine spark plug firing noise. Make sure the fender is clean to shiny metal and use an internal/external toothed star washer. The antenna assembly was supplied with one originally.

[36 Ply]

John-

I'm trusting my memory on this one, going back to the mid 1960s, when I used to install radios in cars that didn't have them. If your antenna is not defective, the only thing I can suggest is to make sure that the antenna is completely isolated from the car sheet metal (fender?). I recall a plastic piece and a rubber gasket at the base of the antenna, which I believe was supposed to keep the antenna from touching the car sheet metal.

I hope that my memory is correct on this. Also, if your radio has an 0Z4 (gas filled) tube, like my mother's '50 Chevy had, when they go bad, you have to rev up the engine to get anything out of the radio.

Regards,
Pat O'Connor

[52plym]

I just rebuilt my radio.? After connecting the antenna and adjusting the antenna modulator, I notice that I could get very few stations, with a very weak signal.? Thinking that the antenna wasn't high enough, I went outside the car to raise it, and the minute I touched the antenna, the radio got much louder.? When I had my good wife hold the antenna while I tuned the radio, I found that the radio worked fine and stations came in loud and strong.? When she let go of the antenna, 75% of the stations were gone.? Obviously, there is a problem with the installation of the antenna, but I can't figure out what.

Any suggestions ???

Thanks,
John Hoffnagle